Christ and the Church: or Parallels, in three books.: In the first ye have the harmony between Christ and the foregoing types, by which he was fore-shadowed in the Old Testament, both persons and things. In the second the agreement between Christ and other things, to which he is compared in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. In the third the agreement between the Church and the types, by which it was foreshadowed in the Old Testament; and other resemblances, by which it is set forth in the holy Scriptures. By Henry Vertue, M.A. rector of Alhallows Hony-lane.

Christ and the high Priest.

Hear St. Austin.

The high Priest went alone in∣to the Holy of Holies,* 1.1 while the people stood without: as now Christ is entered into the secret place of Heaven, to make inter∣cession for us, while the people, whose Priest he is sighs with∣out.

Weemse makes the high Priest a Type of Christ in five things, in his person, in his annoynting,* 1.2 in his ap∣parel, in his marriage, in his death.

1. In his person: there must be no blemish in him: so neither was there in Christ.

2. In his Anointing: the high priest was anointed with the holy oyl: and so was Christ:* 1.3 God hath a∣nointed thee with the oyl of gladnesse, &c.

3. In his garments: his crown signified his Kingly Office: his Urim and Thummim signified his Priest∣ly Office, and his Bells his Prophetical Office.

4. In his marriage. It was not lawful for the high Priest to marry a widow, because he had not her first love nor a divorced woman because he had not her just love, nor an whore, because he could not have her whole love: he might onely marry a Virgin: so Christ requires of his Church her first love, just love, and her onely love.

5. In his death: He that kild a man negligently, fled to the City of Refuge, and stayed there till the death of the high Priest: and then he was free: so Jesus Christ by his death frees us, and sets us at li∣berty.

Dr. Gouge also makes the comparison between Christ and the high Priest in sundry particulars.

* 1.41.

The high Priest was annointed, and this oint∣ment ran down from his head to the skirts of his gar∣ment: this was an outward sign of his Calling and Gifts:* 1.5 so Christ was annointed, He was Called and had Gifts to fit him for the execution of his Offices: and of his fulnesse we all receive, and Grace for Grace.

* 1.62.

The high Priest was arrayed with rich and glo∣rious apparel, which is described by Moses. So Christ is arrayed with Immortallity, Incorruption, Pu∣rity, Majesty, and all manner of glory fit for his place.

* 1.73.

Among other things wrought by the Art of man, the high Priest had in his breast plate two things, Ʋrim and Thummim,* 1.8 which (according to the notation of the words) signifie Light and Integrity. And Christ, the true high Priest, hath in him all the trea∣sures of wisdome and knowledge: and his purity is set out by the Apostle to the ful, Heb. 8.26.

* 1.94

The high Priest carryed before him on his breast-plate the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel. And Christ hath the names of the whole Church in con∣tinual remembrance, and presents them to his Father, to be gratiously accepted by him.

5.

On the high Priests Mitre, in a plate of gold, was ingraven, Holinesse to the Lord. Two reasons are rendred hereof, one, that he might bear (and so take away) the imperfections of their best works; the other that he might make the people acceptable to

the Lord, In Christ were truly and properly accom∣plished those things, which onely were typified in and by the Priest.

6.

There were Bels of Gold on the skirts of the high Priests Ephod, which, with the least motion of his body, sounded. So Christ by his intercession makes a continual pleasant sound in the ears of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Summus sacerdos solus intrabat in sanctū sanctorum; populus foris stabat. Sicut Christus nunc in se∣creta coelorum intravit, ut pro no∣bis interpellet; populus autem, cujus ille sacerdos est, foris gemit. To. 7. part. 1. contr. epist. Par. l. 2. c. 7.
• * 1.2

  Christ. Synag. l. 1. c. 6. s. 3.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 45.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 30.30. Psal. 133.2. Psal. 45.7.
• * 1.5

  Heb. 5.5. Joh. 3.34. Joh. 1.16.
• * 1.6

  Exod. 28.
• * 1.7

  Exod. 28.30.
• * 1.8

  Col. 2.3.
• * 1.9

  Exod. 28.9.10